Chapter 947: Dao Monarch Grants Life, Kunxu Charity

Inside an information space in the Spirit Realm.

As soon as Wang Hai arrived here, he saw that there were already quite a few Soul Cultivators inside the space.

His gaze flashed, and he immediately recognized Lei Jun, who was also from Songyang High School, as well as the former graduates Zhou Chechen and Lan Ling.

While Wang Hai was lost in thought, the three of them had already approached. Lei Jun was the first to speak, “Principal, do you know what the situation is right now?”

Wang Hai shook his head and sighed, “I don’t know either. They suddenly said there was something to announce, and Zhao Tianxing just threw me in here.”

At the mention of Zhao Tianxing, a strange look flashed in their eyes.

They never could have imagined that Zhao Tianxing, who had been completely unremarkable in the First Layer back then and ultimately only got into a vocational college, had unexpectedly become a Spirit Transformation Soul Cultivator after all these years, and was even Zhang Yu’s number one subordinate.

And at the mention of Zhang Yu, everyone felt even more dazed in their hearts.

Even though they had been detained these past few days and their access to information wasn’t very smooth, they already knew that Zhang Yu had become a major figure within the Myriad Laws Sect. Whenever Zhang Yu was mentioned, many people would show expressions full of admiration and respect.

Zhou Chechen said, “I heard we were reported for impersonating upper realm Soul Cultivators…”

Lan Ling said agitatedly, “I’m not, I didn’t impersonate anyone!”

Wang Hai said, “I’m afraid we’ve been drawn into a dispute within the sect and are being used.”

Lei Jun said, “I heard Dao Monarch Zhang is currently in charge of this area. Could it be…”

Hearing this, Lan Ling also felt anxious. One moment he thought of his conflicts with Zhang Yu in High School, and the next he remembered how he constantly kissed up to him in the Hometown Group after University, wondering how exactly Zhang Yu would treat him.

Beside them, Zhou Chechen sighed inwardly, “Having entered the sect, it is natural to sever ties with the past. Besides, given Zhang Yu’s and my relationship, it’s impossible for him to protect me.”

Lei Jun muttered, “As long as we aren’t deported back to the First Layer, anything is fine. I’ll do whatever it takes to stay in the sect.”

Wang Hai sighed in his heart, sharing the exact same thought as Lei Jun at this moment.

In his view, everyone present felt the same way as Lei Jun. As long as they could remain in the sect and catch a glimpse of the Apex of the Immortal Dao, they were willing to bear any price.

Just as everyone’s minds were filled with various thoughts, they felt a fluctuation sweep across their consciousness, projecting them into reality.

In an instant, countless gazes and camera lenses swept over them from their surroundings.

And in the main seat ahead, a figure that felt familiar to everyone was looking towards them.

Wang Hai’s heart trembled: “Is that… Dao Monarch Zhang?”

On the other side, Ji Yuanshu and Ping Han, who were standing together, also felt their hearts tremble.

Looking at the series of titles floating above Zhang Yu’s head — Kunxu Hero, Former Days Salary King, Myriad Laws Divine Sword, and others that he either recognized or didn’t — Ji Yuanshu felt as if he were looking at a lofty deity, unable to muster the slightest thought of resistance in his heart.

“To think that in my lifetime, I would be able to see Zhang Yu again.”

Ping Han, on the other hand, directly dropped to his knees on the ground, his voice trembling, “Dao Monarch Zhang, I was wronged…”

Lan Ling threw himself to the ground and crawled toward Zhang Yu step by step: “Dao Monarch Zhang, I am a lower realm Soul Cultivator brought in through a legitimate talent acquisition program! I really never intended to impersonate an upper realm Soul Cultivator…”

Seeing that a scene was about to break out, Zhao Tianxing, who was standing to the side, shouted, “Enough! Dao Monarch Zhang is here, what kind of behavior is this uproar? Stand up straight, all of you. Dao Monarch Zhang hates it when people kneel randomly.”

As he spoke, Zhao Tianxing had already prepared a Spirit Realm Talisman, ready to control the other party at any time to prevent a live broadcast accident.

But seeing that Lan Ling, Ping Han, and the others all stood up obediently, Zhao Tianxing realized he had saved another talisman.

Just then, Zhang Yu said to the camera, “The confusion between the Lower Realm Soul Cultivators and the Upper Realm is my dereliction of duty as Minister of Netherworld Assets…”

After a public self-reflection, Zhang Yu looked back at the numerous Lower Realm Soul Cultivators and said, “I will revive them at my own expense…”

Hearing these words, Lan Ling’s heart trembled: “Why revive me? I finally managed to die and enter the sect, why revive me? I won’t be able to find a job if I’m alive!”

Lei Jun’s heart also trembled, and then he sighed inwardly: “Sure enough… since Zhang Yu has entered the sect, how could he possibly care about us First Layer teachers?”

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu continued, “…After resurrection, you will each be repatriated to your original layers…”

Hearing these words, the crowd felt even more bitter in their hearts.

“Repatriated?” Ji Yuanshu thought to himself. “If I am repatriated by Zhang Yu, who would ever dare to let me come up again? I’m afraid that as long as Zhang Yu is still around, no one will let me enter the sect.”

The path to climb to the Apex of the Immortal Dao was completely severed, plunging Ji Yuanshu and the others into a state of despair.

Lan Ling continued to kneel and beg for mercy: “Dao Monarch Zhang, I beg you to spare my life. As long as you let me stay in the sect, I am willing to do anything.”

Zhou Chechen sensed the dense Yin Qi in the Former Days Graveyard, as well as that faint immortal aura, and suddenly spoke up: “Lan Ling, stop begging him! In the eyes of an upper-tier cultivator like him, there is only his own immortal path. Why would he care about the life or death of lower-tier cultivators?”

Saying this, he looked up at Zhang Yu and said, “Zhang Yu, do you dare to make a bet with me? Within ten years…”

Zhou Chechen knew that begging these upper-tier cultivators was useless. He looked at the surrounding cameras, wanting to hype up the popularity, wanting to provoke Zhang Yu, and wanting to find that chance at this moment when the immortal path was severed…

But Zhang Yu didn’t say a single word.

Only Zhao Tianxing shouted, saying, “You think you’re worthy of betting with Dao Monarch Zhang?”

The next instant, streams of divine light fell. Zhou Chechen was successfully resurrected, transforming into a Foundation Establishment cultivator standing on the stage.

Immediately after, Zhou Chechen was swept up by the streams of divine light, and amidst his despairing gaze… he was sent back to the lower realm. Lan Ling kowtowed like pounding garlic, but ultimately also let out a miserable shriek, turning into a living person with an “Ah!” before being swept away to the lower realm by the divine light.

Wang Hai sighed inwardly as he felt his physical body. He looked at Zhang Yu ahead, who seemed exactly the same as the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Upper Cultivators he had seen recently.

He thought inwardly, “The path of the Immortal Dao is ultimately walked alone…”

But the next moment, he felt an endless surge of vitality within his body and thought to himself, “This lifespan? Was I resurrected incorrectly? No, he increased my lifespan…”

Wang Hai and Lei Jun exchanged a glance, both seeming to see the astonishment in each other’s eyes.

Wang Hai’s heart suddenly filled with excitement. “Zhang Yu… still remembers me, his teacher. Giving me so many extra years of lifespan, could it be a hint that I still have plenty of time ahead? That I will still have a chance to join the sect in the future?”

Watching the cultivators being resurrected and sent back to the lower realm one by one, Ji Yuanshu turned his head to look at the surrounding scenery.

The sect, the place he had dreamed of his entire life — he feared he would never be able to come here again in this lifetime… or even the next, or the one after that. At this moment, Ji Yuanshu only wanted to take one more look and commit more of this scenery to his memory.

Right at this moment, Ping Han, who was beside him, spoke up. “Having cultivated the Dao for many years, I only wished to catch a glimpse of the Apex of the Immortal Dao. This time, I was lucky enough to encounter an immortal fortune and come to the sect for a look. With boundless Dao resources and immortal talents everywhere, it truly lives up to its reputation. It is indeed the holy land that countless cultivators yearn for…”

Ping Han first lavishly praised the sect’s environment, expressing his shock and yearning.

Then, he quickly bowed his head and admitted his mistakes to Zhang Yu and the countless sect cultivators watching this live broadcast.

He was seen kneeling on the ground, a look of regret on his face as he said, “…People like us, lacking in assets, cultivation, and potential, are simply unworthy of setting foot on the sect’s lands.

“Dao Monarch Zhang’s punishment today has been a profound awakening. This junior is completely convinced and holds absolutely no resentment. From now on, I will turn over a new leaf, reflect on myself earnestly, and never again dare to think of sneaking into the sect, so as not to let down the teachings given today by the Dao Monarch and the various upper-tier cultivators of the sect…”

As Ping Han spoke, he secretly thought to himself, “As they say, an arm cannot wrestle a thigh. Under today’s overwhelming circumstances, we are destined to be banished back to the lower realm.”

“Rather than putting up a dying struggle, it is better to cooperate with Zhang Yu and give him the livestream effect he wants. I only hope that, just as reported in the lower realm, he is clear about gratitude and grudges, believes in reciprocity, and can remember my good deed to give me a slight reward…”

As for how to achieve the livestream effect the other party wanted, Ping Han made a slight deduction and already understood in his heart.

His method of deduction was also very simple.

“If people from the First Layer could casually smuggle themselves into the Second Layer, what would I think?”

Ping Han thought to himself, “A bunch of animals, hurry up and scram back to the First Layer…”

“Therefore, the sect scions just want to see our shock, regret, and admission of fault…”

Seeing Ping Han’s performance, Zhang Yu nodded slightly in his heart and sent a message to Zhao Tianxing, “Ping Han is indeed a top student from the Ten Greats. His reaction is quite fast.”

“Tianxing, don’t help him openly, but secretly reward him with something.”

When Ping Han returned to the university level, he saw an extra item in his hand.

“A Yang Artifact? At the Spirit Transformation level? Could it be an old Yang Artifact that Dao Monarch Zhang used to use?”

Thinking of this, Ping Han was overjoyed and immediately became excited.

He raised his hand, wanting to equip it right away, but found that it couldn’t be installed.

“No, it’s not meant to be equipped down there?”

“It’s to be equipped on the shoulder?”

Ping Han didn’t think this was a manufacturing error, but rather began to ponder the deeper meaning behind it.

---

On the other side, as a group of lower realm cultivators were resurrected one after another, they were deported back to the lower realm.

The numerous cultivators watching the live broadcast were already cheering.

“Dao Monarch Zhang is decisive enough. Dealing with these Lower Beasts requires a swift and fierce response, a heavy strike!”

“Lower realm natives should just roll back to their own zoo, back to their doghouses.”

“The sect is no place for them to stay.”

In the eyes of many sect cultivators, the sect was the necessary path on the journey of the Immortal Dao, the place one absolutely had to come to if they wanted to climb the Immortal Dao…

Kicking these lower-tier cultivators out of the sect and driving them back to the lower realm would be the most severe punishment, the path that would plunge them into the utmost despair.

And as Zhang Yu went on to explain that the origin of Soul Cultivators would be strictly inspected, and that all Soul Cultivators would be marked with upper realm and lower realm traceability codes, many viewers expressed their support.

Zhang Yu also took advantage of this wave of popularity to announce his upcoming plans.

“Regarding the turmoil currently caused by the freezing of the Law Edict in some minor realms within the 16th layer, I will invite some enterprises to jointly discuss the issue of working hours, striving to eliminate the chaos of excessively long overtime as soon as possible…”

After Zhang Yu said this, the news was immediately spread rapidly throughout the Spirit Realm and Dharma Realm.

“Dao Monarch Zhang is going to negotiate with the companies? To reduce our overtime hours?”

“How could these upper-tier cultivators possibly speak up for us? I think he is just here for public graft. Negotiations are just a means for him to extort benefits from the companies. In the end, he will definitely collude with the companies to ravage our time!”

“I heard that after Dao Monarch Zhang went to the Former Days Graveyard, he was full of sincerity about the salary of the Soul Cultivators there, making them all contract a ‘capital-loving disease’. Maybe he really is here to limit working hours?” ¹

“Limit working hours? Then why did he freeze the ‘4-hour workday’? I think the higher-ups just want us to work 24 hours a day, using cheap hourly wages to buy out our lives!”

“😢 The general environment is ruined by these upper-tier cultivators!”

Regarding Zhang Yu’s words, some were half-believing and half-doubting, while others scoffed at them.

Some lower-tier cultivators harbored a trace of extravagant hope in their hearts and decided to wait and see.

“Let’s wait and see, maybe it’s true?”

However, many more cultivators had prepared for the worst and decided to slack off like crazy at work.

“Since the upper-tier cultivators dare to make me work without rest, I dare to rebel against them. And the best way to punish the upper-tier cultivators is to slack off! Let them also feel the terror of their income decreasing silently!”

“That’s right! I will become the company’s salary thief! I’ll make every penny of my salary completely watered down, making those upper-tier cultivators lose money hiring me!”

Others decided to leave the 16th layer and find a job elsewhere.

“If this keeps up, the 16th layer will sooner or later turn into a place of low pay and no rest. It no longer has an Immortal Dao environment and is unsuitable for cultivation.”

There were also people who started looking for work opportunities in other sects.

“The sect is too cutthroat. I feel like I can’t even breathe staying here every day. I want to go to the Joyful Union Sect and live like a real person; I heard working from home and flexible hours are popular there.”

---

Just as the news announced by Zhang Yu sparked continuous discussions and steadily rising interest within the 16th layer’s Spirit Realm and Dharma Realm, the companies selected by Zhang Yu also began to successively receive his invitations at this moment.

Within the Myriad Gold Mystic Realm managed by Kuang Zhiqian.

A Void Refinement Cultivator named Wan Wuyi descended as a projection, inspecting the company’s operational status within the minor realm.

His projection was covered entirely in advertisements for his own gambling company, sending out external invitations almost every moment and distributing gambling funds to people. As long as they met a certain number of bets and spent enough time gambling, they could withdraw cash from the platform.

Wan Wuyi could be heard praising, “Not bad, not bad. This Law Edict was frozen perfectly. With the per capita working hours continuing to increase, we should be able to lay off another batch of people next month. Not only will we save on labor costs, but we will also gain a new batch of customers.”

Wan Wuyi planned to give each employee a sum of gambling funds before their departure; they only needed to gamble 50 consecutive times to be able to withdraw the money.

“Not only did we give them a sliver of immortal fortune, but we also boosted the company’s performance. Sigh, our gambling company truly deserves the title of the kindest and most uplifting company for lower-tier cultivators in Kunxu.”

“It’s no wonder that according to the data statistics from the past ten years, the number of cultivators who rose to prominence through gambling ranks first among all types of fortuitous encounters.”

“Speaking of which, this Dao Monarch Zhang is truly a peerless genius. He boosted our performance so much all at once. He really is the reform divine sword of our sect.”

Listening to his words, Kuang Zhiqian said from the side, “Dao Monarch Wan, Dao Monarch Zhang wants to invite you to talk about restricting working hours…”

Wan Wuyi turned his head, looking at the other party as if looking at an idiot. “Zhang Yu wants us to voluntarily restrict working hours? Is that legal? It’s simply disrupting the business environment. We don’t even charge them for overtime anymore, so what excuse do those low-tier cultivators have to get off work so early?”

“They wouldn’t be able to climb up even if they cultivated for another hundred years. They might as well make more money for us. In another year, I’ll be able to change my Immortal Abode.”

Kuang Zhiqian said, “Dao Monarch Wan, Dao Monarch Zhang is serious this time. If the turmoil continues, it will affect the legal reform…”

Affect the reforms? Does reform mean they can touch the money in our accounts?

Wan Wuyi scoffed coldly in his heart and spoke out, “Say no more. Do you really expect someone to spit out the money that has already entered their account? For Zhang Yu to say such beastly things, is he even fit to be a person? Does he have even a shred of morality left?”

“Furthermore, even if I agreed, would the shareholders behind me agree? Would the various lords of the Immortal Ascension Hall agree? Would the investors in our company’s stock agree?”

“How does Zhang Yu even have the face to extravagantly discuss such a matter with me?”

Having said that, Wan Wuyi flicked his sleeves and left, clearly not intending to attend the meeting convened by Zhang Yu.

---

Inside the minor realm where Lie Jinghong was piloting the Law Edict.

Dharma Link Exchange was a gigantic lending platform within the Dharma Realm. Aside from Immortal Coins, one could also borrow all kinds of power, cultivation, lifespan…

At this moment, in one of Dharma Link Exchange’s data centers located within this minor realm, a projection in the appearance of a young girl… was currently listening to Lie Jinghong’s meeting invitation.

Although this projection looked like a young girl, every single organ and Bionic on her body had a return countdown timer, seemingly entirely borrowed.

She was exactly the person in charge of this data center, Wang Guanyao.

Wang Guanyao could be heard saying, “Apologies, Monarch Lie. Although the law reform is important, the major platforms of the Dharma Realm directly represent the interests of the Immortal Emperor.”

“We are not laying off staff for ourselves, but for the Immortal Emperor.”

“The employees working 24 hours a day is not for the company either, but for the Immortal Emperor. Previously, constrained by overtime pay, they couldn’t repay the Immortal Emperor 24 hours a day. Now that they’ve caught up with this great era of unpaid overtime, they naturally must show their utmost loyalty to the Immortal Emperor at all times. If you don’t believe me, ask them — who wouldn’t be willing to work 24 hours a day for the Immortal Emperor?”

With that, she pointed a finger, and three coupons offering a 5% discount on interest emerged.

“Please apologize to Dao Monarch Zhang on my behalf. Consider these three coupons as an apology. If you use them to borrow money from the platform, you can get a 5% discount on the interest.”

Watching Lie Jinghong’s disappearing projection, Wang Guanyao coldly snorted, “What does he think he is? Does he really think he can just come and rob us of our money just because he is the Myriad Laws Divine Sword?”

In Wang Guanyao’s eyes, the already reduced labor costs were profits safely pocketed into her and the company’s accounts.

For Zhang Yu to demand that she limit working hours and hire more people was, in this day and age, no different from stealing their money.

Wang Guanyao, in particular, did not believe for a second… that Zhang Yu was doing this to reduce the working hours of the lower-tier cultivators.

In her eyes, Zhang Yu wasn’t out of his mind, so why would he seek any benefits for the lower-tier cultivators?

“This guy is most likely using this excuse to extort benefits from the major companies.”

Thinking of some of the rumors about Zhang Yu, an ominous suspicion welled up in Wang Guanyao’s heart, “Zhang Yu, this dual cultivation hungry ghost… could it be that he wants to subject me to the hidden rule?”

---

Inside Bu Yingshu’s minor realm, she was speaking to the elderly woman in front of her, “Aunt, you must attend the symposium Zhang Yu is holding this time.”

The cultivator Bu Yingshu called aunt was named Bu Aixian. She was also a member of the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan, and the phrase “Loyal to the Emperor, Devoted to the Sect” was permanently etched in her eyes.

She was also a well-known philanthropist within the Myriad Laws Sect. Not only did she establish her own charity organization, but she also took the lead in donating money every year.

Yes, of course, there were charity organizations within the Myriad Laws Sect, but the money donated by these charities went to the Immortal Emperor, Immortal Venerables, and Immortals.

This seemed perfectly reasonable to Bu Aixian. After all, charitable institutions should donate money to the people who needed it the most and lacked it the most.

“Those poor ghosts at the bottom lack money, but how much could they possibly lack? It’s nothing more than a few hundred, a few thousand, or tens of thousands of Immortal Coins.”

“Could they possibly be more short on money than my Grandpa Immortal Emperor? What my Grandpa Immortal Emperor lacks is hundreds of billions, trillions of Immortal Coins. He is the person in the sect who needs donations the most.”

“Sharing Grandpa Immortal Emperor’s burdens and calling on everyone to donate money to Grandpa Immortal Emperor is the greatest mission of my life!”

At this moment, hearing Bu Yingshu’s words, Bu Aixian’s brows knit together, her eyes sparkling with the light of being ‘Loyal to the Emperor, Devoted to the Sect’: “What is Zhang Yu trying to do by holding this meeting? Has he set his sights on me?”

“Let me state upfront, every sum of money received by my charity organization is voluntarily donated by everyone, with the purpose of helping those in the Myriad Laws Sect who need it the most. I cannot betray their trust.”

“Over the years, every sum of money that has passed through my hands can withstand the sect’s audits and complies with sect policy and sect law. I will absolutely not break this rule.”

Bu Yingshu had always been very envious of this aunt of hers.

After all, when the annual charity quotas were distributed, everyone basically had to give face. Whoever refused to donate was disrespecting the Immortal Emperor, disregarding the Immortal Clan, and forgetting the true master of the land beneath their feet….

This profession of showing up at someone’s door and directly asking for money was once the profession Bu Yingshu had envied the most in the past.

Hearing her aunt’s words at this moment, Bu Yingshu quickly explained, “Aunt, don’t overthink it. Zhang Yu isn’t trying to ask you for money. He just wants to limit working hours to prevent the lower-tier cultivators from losing too much and causing unrest in the sect.”

Hearing this, Bu Aixian frowned even deeper: “You actually believe that? For those low-tier cultivators who barely have a few coins?”

“Yingshu, it’s not that I want to criticize you, but you are just too easily trusting of others.”

“Reform requires growing pains, and since the low-tier cultivators have so few assets, how much money could they possibly lose? They are the perfect candidates to bear these growing pains. Are you telling me Zhang Yu, someone who came from the Reformist Faction, doesn’t know such a simple truth?”

“I think he clearly has his eyes on the charity funds donated to the Immortal Emperor!”

“I knew it! I knew it… These people pushing for reform, no matter what they say, ultimately just want to drag my Grandpa Immortal Emperor into it! They’ve got their eyes on Grandpa Immortal Emperor’s pockets.”

As she spoke, the characters for “Loyal to the Emperor, Devoted to the Sect” in Bu Aixian’s eyes shone even brighter, projecting directly outward and floating in the surrounding air.

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